Coin-in-the-slot machine



April 8; 1930. w. H. BEDDARD COIN-IN-THE-SLOT MACHINE Filed April 3,' 1928 mi 7 m I M/ /f/ u n0. 2 a c ad d a Patented pr. 8, 193.0

, UNITED STATES lmame? i WILLIAM HENRY BEDDARD, OF SMALL HEATI-, ENGLAND Y COIN-IN-THE-SLOT MACHINE Application led April 3, 1928, Serial No. 266,931, and in Great Britain April 13, 1927.

The invention relates to ar coin-inthe-slot machine of the kind having movable pieces normally covering the coin entrance proper and adapted to be moved to uncover said entrance by the act of forcing in a coin towards said entrance. A f

A machine of this type is illustrated and described in the specifications of prior British Letters Patent No. 29,362/13, embodying two movable jaw-like pieces fitted oppositely to slide within a box forming a guide for them so that they normally cover and guard the enu trance proper of the coin into the machine, these jaw-like pieces being pressed together close by springs to close thel entrance, and being formed on their front faces with pairs of steps against which the edge of the inserted coin operates to push the pieces away from each other against the action of the springs so that the coin may pass into the coin entrance proper, after which the pieces close again. In front of the movable pieces is an external coin slot leading to the pieces, which function in many ways between the front coin slot and the back coin slot, which is the coin entrance proper; they resist the entrance of a coin-like piece which is too soft, and they are also very effective to prevent the insertion of rubbish such as cardboard, tram tickets and'other objects or articles likely to put the machine out of action.

According to the invention a diameter test for coin is provided immediately in front of the movable pieces, of such a character as to prevent the movable pieces being opened sufiiciently to uncover the coin entrance proper if the coin or substitute disc is too large or too small in diameter, this diametertest involving two opposed surfaces for the edge of the inserted coin to contact, such surfaces, or one of them, forming parts, or a part, of catches, or a catch, adapted to normally engage the movable pieces or one of them to hold said pieces, or piece, against movement, so that a coin of correct diameter only may become operative on the surfaces to move the catches, or catch, and release the movable pieces, or piece, so that they or it lmay be moved sufficiently by the coin for the coin to pass into the machine. The one surface is preferably stationary but adjustable, and theother surface a part of a pivoted cam catch adapted to engage the jaw-like piece adjacent to it to normally hold said piece against Vfully opening. The catch or catches areautomatic in 5i their movement to hold the movable piece or pieces,vpreferably by the action of a spring.

The invention in its desirable form is represented by the accompanying sheet of drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a vertical section with the correct coin partly pushed in. Fig. 2 is a similar vertical section as Fig. l showing the position of the parts with the coin further pushed in and passing the diam- G5 eter test. f

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 with the box coverand coin removed. Y

Fig. l is a section ofk Fig. l on the dotted lines A. B., looking tothe left.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional detail with a worn, but correct-diameter, coin which will. pass the test. l

6V is a similar detail but'with a coin that is too large in diameter, and

Fig. 7 is a similar` detail section showing the operation of a coin too small in diameter.

A vertical wall a of the casing of a coinin-the-slot machine has rigidly secured to it a coin testing mechanism and a rubbish re- 3G jector according to the invention, as by the internal screw-.pins a2. A passage as for the coin is provided through this casing wall.

Two movable jaw-like pieces c and Z are fitted oppositely to slide in a straight line within a box e. These pieces normally cover and guard the entrance proper g to the machine, being automatically pressed together by springs 02, cl2 and forcibly separated to uncover the coin entrance g by the act of 9@ forcing in a coin, whose edge operates against steps 03, cl3 of said pieces, all substantially in accordance with the prior patent specification vreferred to. In front of the pieces c, d, is an external coin slot h, the entrance slot g (the internal coin slot) being behind the jaw-like pieces c and d. The external coin slot L leads to the pieces c and d and is provided in a box-like cover 71.2 rigidly secured to the box e, which, in turn, is rigidly 10 secured to the casing wall a. Between the external slot 7L and the two jaw-like pieces c and d are provided two surfaces z' and y' for the edge of the inserted coin w to contact to serve as a test for diameter of coin. These surfaces are carried by the box e, and the one is stationary but adjustable, while the others' forms a part of a pivotedcatch 'i2 adapted by its hool -like end 3 to engage a detent c4 of the jaw-like piece c to normally hold said jaw-like piece against fully open` ing, a spring device Z swinging the catch to normal position. The cat-ch operates like a first-order lever, being pivoted at it to a lug of the box-c. 'The stationary but adjustable surface forms a part of the head of a stud jg slidably applied to a lug of the box e and clamped in adjusted position in the lug by a set pin js, a small spring jt beingapplied to this stud to nor nally project it, but once set this testing surface 7' is fixed. Normally the twojaw-like pieces c and al overlap at their innermost parts. `W hen a coin of the correct diameter is hand-forced between the stationary surface y' and the surface e' of the cam catch it causes said catch to rock and release the jaw-like piece c, so that by the action of the coin on the steps of the two aws these pieces can fully7 separate and allow the coin to pass between them, and through the coin entrance proper g into the machine. Fig. 2 shows clearly how this action takes place, the two jaw-like pieces c and (l being nearly fully open, and the coin having passed the diameter test.

The stationary surface .7' and the surface c' of the cam catch are set in relation to each other and in relation tc the j avv-like sliding piece 0 so that new and worn correct coins will pass, there being only very slight differences in their diameter. lThis is Yillustrated by Fig. 5 although the diameters of the coin are somewhat exaggerated for convenience in illustrationf If a coin or a coin-like disc too large in diameter is attempted to be forced into the machine as in Fig. 6, it will become blocked or wedged between the stationary surface j and the surface z' of the cam catch, being unable to pass the diameter test. If a coin or coin-like disc too small in diameter is inserted as in Fig. 7 it will pass the surfaces y' and z' but cannot fully force back the one jaw-like piece c held by the catch. so that ifgonly a little under diameter said coin or disc cannot get through the entrance slot g because it cannot push back both of the jaw-like pieces c and `CZ necessary to permit of the coin or disc passing through the coin entrance g.

Instead of one surface j being provided as a stationary but adjustable one, both surfaces z' and 7' may be provided as parts of separate opposite cam-catches, each holding and releasing its adjacent aw-,lilre slidingpiece.

It will be` clear from the drawings that in order to sufficiently uncover the coin entrance g the jaw-like slidable pieces c and d must separate considerably7 to do which the cam catch must release the one jaw, or both jaws if both are held by cam catches.

The diameter test devices, aforesaid, are entirely fixed in and covered on the front of theV box e containing the jaw-lille slidable pieces, so that there is nothing presented on the front except an ordinary coin entrance slot which is of considerable depth and in front of the jaw-like slidable pieces.

The extreme front of the coin entrance may be shaped in any convenient way to guide the coin into the coin slot proper, so that in the dark the coin can easily find its way to the test and coin entrance.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a coin-in-the-slot machine, the combination with a coin entrance proper and movable pieces normally covering said entrance proper and slidable to open the entrance by the edge pressure of the coin thereagainst, of diameter testing devices arranged in front of said pieces and associated therewith to allow only the correct diameter coin to pass.

2. In a coin-intheslot machine, the combination with a coin entrance proper and movable pieces normally covering said entrance proper and slidable to open the entrance by the edge pressure of thecoin thereagainst, of diameter testing devices arranged in front of said pieces and comprising two opposed surfaces for the edge of the inserted coin to contact, and a catch ofwhich one of said surfaces forms a part, saidcatch normally engaging one of said movable pieces `and being disengageable therefrom only by a coin of prop er diameter.

3. In a coin-infthe-slot machine, the combination of a coin entrance proper, movable pieces spring pressed towards each other to cover said entrance proper, one being provided with a detent, an external coin` slot in front of the movable pieces, and between the external coin slot and the movable pieces 0pposed stationary and movable surfaces between which the coin must pass for correct diameter test, the movable surface being part of a pivoted cam-catch adapted to engage the detent of the movable piece, substantially as described. Y

4:. In a coin-in-the-slot machine, the combination of a coin entrance proper forming part ofa box, movable pieces applied within the box spring pressed towards each other to cover said entrance proper, one being provided with a detent,'a cover applied to the box and formed with an external coin slot, a stationary surface applied within the cover to contact thecoins edge on the one side of thev external slot, and a cam-catch on the other side of said slot to carry a movable sur,-

face and to engage one of the movable pieces, substantially as described.

5. In a coin-in-the-slot machine, the combination of a coin entrance proper forming part of a box, stepped movable pieces applied within the box spring pressed towards each other to cover said entrance proper, one being provided with a detent, a cover applied to the exterior of the box and formed with an external coin slot, a stationary but adjustable peg applied within the cover to contact the coins edge on the one side of the external slot, and a lever catch on the other side of said slot to carry` a movable surface and to engage one of the movable pieces and to be normally spring pressed in the path of said piece, substantially as described.

6. In a coin-intheslot machine, an entrance for a coin, movable pieces normally closing said entrance and slidable in opposite directions relative thereto, and a coin diameter-testing device disposed in front of said pieces and including a catchengageable with one of them, said catch being disengaged f from said piece only by contact of a coin of predetermined diamter to permit said coin to move said pieces suiiiciently to pass through said entrance.

7. In a coin-in-the-slot machine, a box having an inner coin entrance, a cover for said box having a portion spaced therefrom and provided with an outer coin entrance aligned with the first-named entrance, movable pieces slidable in said box in opposed directions and normally closing the entrance therein, resilient means retaining said piecesin normal position, a stationary coin-testing surface mounted in the space between said ,box and cover and on one side of said entrances, a catch pivoted in said space at a diametrically opposite point from said surface and also having a testing surface, and means to retain said catch in engagement with one of said movable pieces until a coin is engaged with said testing surfaces.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM HENRY BEDDARD. 

